the mess what it is and means at present.

 Well three things that need to be clear with the mess it's not a good guy game. So far the players have managed not to be to much on the lords of order/light's radar. And thier main ally The R.O.F. (Robotech Offensive Force btw.) are war torn survivors of the robotech wars arent the "good guys" You'd imagine infact they are likely the most skilled army in the megaverse (as a collective force.). They've not only fought the masters/zentredi/Invid but predators, aliens (infestations), mechanoids, splugorath, and Saved the BattlestarGalactica (1980's era not the new ones) and fleet from the Cylons (The civilian's (with the battlestar) are the first civilian's the R.O.F. has had for a long time. (the R.O.F. numbers in  roughly 1,250,000 combined of humans zentredi ((male and female)), Tyrolians/bioroids, And a few 1000 of each of the sentinal races. As well as a few 100,000 zentredi (male and female) tyrolians and bioroids in stasis that they havent had time/protoculture to reprogram (with domestic and basic electronics' and or basic mechanics, and first aid skills and such to make them less cloned machines and more well adjusted people.). So more bitter completely loyal to thier leaders group.  The game is a build up to a number of Mega-verse shaking/reshaping events.  The P.C. Group is in the ground floor to become the new gods. after the wars that come.

What are the build rules for a character and which rift books can be used to pick races and classes. 

Well we should talk in discord. and see what fits your style.

When is a good time to talk on discord? Depending on what level we are playing at I can choose from varying rift books to put together something at correct level. 

<a href="https://discord.gg/p8nU9RxX" rel="nofollow">https://discord.gg/p8nU9RxX</a> &nbsp;Level 15th plus.but we'll discuss it.

As i've said&nbsp; to everyone you could just be a player of the the megaverse if you want to have a buissiness or space age planet/ society that has even a small bit part to play in the mess. in any of the in play dimensoins and such. heroes/startrek zone is the main mess base of operations/galaxy. (the p.c. group will likely take the place of the federation/f.a.r..). A open option would be to take on the role of the romulons or cardassians (sorry the vulcans arent an option. the romulons just recently split with a few ships and colony ships 9to in game take/name romulous.) for the new home galaxies (keep in mind the romulons and cardassians are sdc peopl with mdc technology.cardassians have enough sdc to add to 2-3 mdc 200-300sdc ((the occasional romulon to oddly a lot of them dont have any mutants romulons having a lot of minor psionics)).). Outside of heroes earth is mdc capable races with mostly sdc beings with the exception of a few races that are mdc or have some mdc and sdc beings. As for Heroes earth it is pre rifts earth as hinted at in villains unlimited and other books 9in my game.). So the players knowing its populated by a number of gods in the future have been reminded/decided to keep Earth quarantined (after a fashion.). The Atorains already had a war fleet annihilated by the r.o.f. (complete 100% antihalation. ) and a number of losses that have had them halt thier next expansion. obviously the dominoin are the sleeping giants (quietly playing thier game and infiltrating races and such but thier a long play group so&nbsp; aside from a few shapeshifters being around and possibly found no one will have a clue.

As for other options you could roll a race/planetary society and see what the rolls give you. in the Mess's starting galaxy you could be a rag tag group of refugee/pirates/freebooters or such or a one race based around a cool ship/technology. Or you can go straight capitalist entrepreneur and have a start up business with a few&nbsp; ships and a super freighter or such. or maybe tour ships with graceful solar sails..who know's.&nbsp;